I've wondered about Rodin's famous sculpture. Is he engaged in deep thought or sitting around wasting time? And why isn't he wearing pants? I ask the same of myself. Here we comment on well, mostly politics. Or we may just sit! If you like it, tell a friend. If not, tell us, but please read the GROUND RULES before you do.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

US prepares military blitz against Iran's nuclear sitesBy Philip Sherwell in Washington(Filed: 12/02/2006)

Strategists at the Pentagon are drawing up plans for devastating bombing raids backed by submarine-launched ballistic missile attacks against Iran's nuclear sites as a "last resort" to block Teheran's efforts to develop an atomic bomb.Central Command and Strategic Command planners are identifying targets, assessing weapon-loads and working on logistics for an operation, the Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

They are reporting to the office of Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, as America updates plans for action if the diplomatic offensive fails to thwart the Islamic republic's nuclear bomb ambitions. Teheran claims that it is developing only a civilian energy programme.

"This is more than just the standard military contingency assessment," said a senior Pentagon adviser. "This has taken on much greater urgency in recent months."

The esteemed Schmidlap pointed us to a clever bit about right-wing support for the preznit. It appears that the true believers will stay on board throughout any storm, including lies, torture, hellish wars, Katrina, etc. so the question became--since nothing seems to have any impact on them, how would conservatives react if President Bush killed a kitten with a hammer?

I submit for your consideration the headlines taken from TODAY'S papers--yup, all in one morning.:Ex-CIA official rips war caseSays Iraq data distorted to sway publicCheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information Ex-FEMA chief: Bush aides informed

CIA Leak Scandal Goes to the TopBush administration officials reveal that the Vice President spearheaded the White House's efforts to discredit Joseph Wilson.

Now of course, other than the continuing sectarian body count, none of this is new. Hell, Terry Schiavo knew they cooked the Iraq books and sought to destroy the critics of their murderous little war. Additionally, while we all knew Michael Brown was an incompetent buffoon, we also knew that the incompetence, indifference and corruption went way above "Brownie."

But will seeing even this litany of Bushite felonies and fiascos sway the true believers? Not a chance.

Friday, February 10, 2006

The National Guard Association of the United States yesterday unveiled a bust of a young Lt. George W. Bush. The association expressed its pride in Bush, who is perhaps its most famous alumnus around today...link

In his speech at the National Guard Building, Chimpy said:"We removed a cruel regime that oppressed its people, brutalized women and girls, and gave safe haven to the terrorists who attacked America." Hmm, it seems like I've seen this movie before. I just have one question for the preznit--did you deposed the king of Saudi Arabia and I missed it?

Rush's dumber brother gives us this oh-so-dramatic lead in his column at creators.com:I hereby expressly consent to the NSA eavesdropping on any telephonic, Internet or other electronic forms of communications I may have -- whether I initiate or am on the receiving end of the communication -- with any person or persons the government has reasonable basis to conclude is a member of al Qaeda, affiliated with al Qaeda or a member of an organization affiliated with al Qaeda.Just one quick question, Davy...if "the government has reasonable basis to conclude is a member of al Qaeda, affiliated with al Qaeda or a member of an organization affiliated with al Qaeda" then they could COMPLY WITH THE LAW and GET A WARRANT!!!!

A scriptural thought on child sexual abuse by the clergy:"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. "Matthew 18: 6

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Raise your hand if you think the Obama-McCain episode over "partisanship" was the first shot by the GOP across the bow of the Dem's golden boy. And of course, Joe Lieberman played right along with the Republicans, showing again that Satan holds the claim check for his soul.

Restoring honor and dignity, right? So who does the GOP name to replace the disgraced criminal Duke Cunningham to the high-profile House Approriations Committee? Why, disgraced criminal Tom Delay! There's integrity for you.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Veteran reporter Helen Thomas gave Scott McClellan fits lately, as the pathetic mouthpiece twisted himself into knots sounding more and more ridiculous as he kept sputtering. He kept whimpering back to his failsafe talking point, though--"we're at war." War. The war on terror, the global war on religious extremism, or as Edwin Starr said, "War, huh, yeah , what is it good for, absolutely nothing say it again, y'all." But are we at war?The term war has both popular and political connotations. We toss it about lightly, saying it was a war out there in describing a sporting event to a war of words to the war on drugs to Bill O'Reilly's absurd "war on Christmas." It of course also has a legal and political aspect, as it is a condition mentioned in the constitution and recognized at international law. But where are we now? Well, obviously, we have soldiers dying weekly in Iraq, but are we at "war?" And if so, with whom? Iraq has had "elections" but as of yet has no "government." We invaded the country unlawfully and are engaged in a military occupation, which suggests that we are at war with--the Iraqi people? Poll results would certainly suggest so. But as to the "war on terror?" We can laugh at it, as does Terry Jones of Monty Python fame, who says that "what really alarms me about President Bush's 'War on Terrorism' is the grammar. How do you wage war on an abstract noun? How is 'Terrorism' going to surrender? It's well known, in philological circles, that it's very hard for abstract nouns to surrender." We can also recognize the sad truth within Jones' humor that this so-called "war" can go on for as long as our leaders desire because it has no endgame. No defined, enemy, no defined objective, and as Jean-Paul Sartre posited, "No Exit"--or hell.Let's place this in domestic terms. Let's say, completely hypothetically, that a deranged piece of white trash decided to blow up a federal building because he hated the "gummit." Are we then at "war" with white trash? No, INDIVIDUALS committed CRIMES and were dealt with accordingly--hypothetically, that is. I seriously doubt that we as a people would have willingly embraced violations of our civil liberties in order to catch a native-born psychopath.This is a POLICE matter. I mean that not in terms of Adam-12 (for those of you of a certain age) but in a general sense of we need to act to prevent CRIMINAL activity and to apprehend CRIMINALS. There is a role for the military here, but our military is being abused. The troops are asked to do things for which they are not trained or equipped, and major portions of the military, the reserves and the National Guard, have been gutted. Recruitment is down, and in a very disturbing trend, the younger officers, the captains and majors, are leaving in droves. Factor in billions of dollars worth of equipment destroyed, and cue Edwin Starr. I can give you definitions of war, from Sun-Tzu to UN treaties, but that would be fruitless. So too is what I ask for at the end here from our leaders on this subject--a little honesty.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

No, not that one, not the retarded criminal.President Jimmy Carter. Thank you.Speaking to honor Mrs. King, he said "it was difficult for them then personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretaps."I say amen!Inappropriate? Hell no. The Kings lived a political life charged with a vision and a mission. So too, America's black churches have proudly and fiercely carried forth both the gospel of Jesus and the gospel of freedom.Amen.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Several thousand Iraqis rallied in the southern city of Kut, burning Danish, German and Israeli flags, as well as an effigy of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, to demand diplomatic and economic ties be severed with countries in which the caricatures were published.

"An Indiana minister is claiming the best selling novel 'The Da Vinci Code' is a distorted picture of the history of Christianity....He says the book attacks Christianity and much of what Christians have been taught to believe. He says even thought the book is a novel-- it's done in such a way that it's hard to tell fact from fiction. `Shallow as it is the book is a weapon being used to discredit the Christian faith,' said Pastor Stephan Munsey."

I can just hear him now (celebrity idiot minister voice impersonated):

"My brothers and sisters, those who oppressed us stoned Stephen and crucified Peter upside down. They threw our fellow believers to the lions and put them to the sword. But now, we face our greatest challenge, as our Lord, he who created the earth and the heavens and conquered death for our sake, must now do battle with POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT!!"

Oh please. It's a book meant for beach reading and killing time on an airplane, and it will be a movie meant to idle away a couple of escapist hours. If a potboiler book and a popcorn movie can shake your faith, then there isn't much there to shake.

Now I'm a big fan of the Dan Brown novels (I loved Angels and Demons in particular) but these WORKS OF FICTION are about as relevant to theology and history as Fox News is to...news. I would suggest that the good reverend concentrate on the many evils that do inhabit the world rather than inventing demons from novels and matinee movies.

TB just said, in response to a softball question by Orrin Hatch, that the president has the authority to conduct warrantless searches, consistent with the fourth amendment...

Ummm...

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Did you notice that Chimpy referred to "Burma" in the State of the Union? Of course the country has asked for years to be called Myanmar. I know there are some diplomatic issues, including the question of whether a country can change its "translated" name (for example, the Greeks don't call their country "Greece") and we also do have very icy relations with the country's military rulers.But, please raise your hand if you think they wrote "Burma" for him because he couldn't say "Myanmar?" "Hmm..MalloMars...I like MalloMars......"

Gosh how time flies when you're having fun...From March 2003:Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have a message for them: If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you. As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free. In free Iraq there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. If we MUST begin a military campaign? If we MUST?How is that food, medicine and prosperity working out?And torture and rape--well, just put out the "Under New Management" sign.All the more comforting when this meglomaniac says this last week:

And, tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran.With friends like us, who needs enemies???

Sunday, February 05, 2006

It's nice and early in the morning. Was up reading about the split-second loss the Illini had yesterday and getting ready for Super Bowl Extra Large when I decided to browse the political blogs (after all, you never know if we might have invaded someone overnight). That was where I learned this (from the New York Times, registration required)

In October, for example, George Deutsch, a presidential appointee in NASA headquarters, told a Web designer working for the agency to add the word "theory" after every mention of the Big Bang, according to an e-mail message from Mr. Deutsch that another NASA employee forwarded to The Times.

...Mr. Deutsch [is] a 24-year-old presidential appointee in the press office at NASA headquarters whose résumé says he was an intern in the "war room" of the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. A 2003 journalism graduate of Texas A&M, he was also the public-affairs officer who sought more control over Dr. Hansen's public statements.

In October 2005, Mr. Deutsch sent an e-mail message to Flint Wild, a NASA contractor working on a set of Web presentations about Einstein for middle-school students. The message said the word "theory" needed to be added after every mention of the Big Bang.

The Big Bang is "not proven fact; it is opinion," Mr. Deutsch wrote, adding, "It is not NASA's place, nor should it be to make a declaration such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts intelligent design by a creator."

It continued: "This is more than a science issue, it is a religious issue. And I would hate to think that young people would only be getting one-half of this debate from NASA. That would mean we had failed to properly educate the very people who rely on us for factual information the most."

Thank you, Mr. Deutsch, for once again affirming why people need to take science classes, and perhaps learn something from them. Should we go over the scientific method again? The definition of theory? How scientists take observations and produce testable hypotheses and how the more tests a hypothesis passes, the more validity it gains?

Of course not. He clearly wouldn't understand what's really going on if I explained it to him - he doesn't want to. That would mean opening his pinheaded little skull and putting something new and perhaps contradictory to what he believes inside, let it all rattle around, and see what gets produced. That, of course, would be a sign of intelligence, and the practice of good scientists.

I wonder how many years it would take to undo the damage that the Bush Administration has done to our world. I fear we will never find out.